Elizabeth McGinitie, PhD, BSc (Honours)

Contact

Associate Professor, Augustana - Sciences

Email: ecorkum@ualberta.ca
Address: 152 Science Extension
4901-46 Ave

Camrose AB

T4V 2R3

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

Chemistry Chemistry Education Catalysis Green Chemistry Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Energy and Environment

About

Degrees:

BSc (Honours in Chemistry), St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia

PhD in Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

Research

My disciplinary research interests primarily lie in the fields of catalysis and green chemistry. My current research focuses on improving the environmental sustainability and efficiency of industrial chemical processes through asymmetric catalyst immobilization and continuous-flow. In addition, I have a number of SOTL research projects that mostly focus on non-traditional teaching practices and alternative assessments.

Selected Publications and Patents:

Rempel, B. P.; Snyman, M.; King, D.; Kariuki, J.; McGinitie, E. G. Design and implementation of a mentorship course that utilizes senior undergraduate chemistry students as learning assistants in the introductory chemistry laboratory to foster transferable skill development. The Journal of Chemical Education 2024, 101, 3795-3804.
Rempel, B. P.; Dirks, M.; McGinitie, E. The influence of two-stage testing on peer relationships: a study of first-year university student perceptions. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2023, 14, 1-19.
King, D.; Snyman, M.; McGinitie, E. G. Design, implementation and instructor reflections on teaching a face-to-face advanced synthetic chemistry laboratory course during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of Chemical Education 2022, 99, 1579-1586.
Rempel, B. P.; Dirks, M.; McGinitie, E. G. Two-stage testing reduces student-perceived exam anxiety in introductory chemistry. The Journal of Chemical Education 2021, 98, 2527-2535.
Bergens, S. H.; Kalapugama, S.; Nepal, P.; McGinitie, E. Catalyst systems for use in continuous flow reactors and methods of manufacture and use thereof. US Patent 20160175829, issued June 23, 2016.
Corkum, E. G.; Wang, R.; Aquino, M. A. S. Compromising the metal-metal bond in diruthenium(II,III) tetraacetate: Reaction of [Ru2(µ-O2CMe)4(MeOH)2]+ with phosphines to form ‘Ru(µ-O2CMe)2(µ-OMe)2Ru’ cores. Inorganica Chimica Acta 2015, 424, 202-209.
Corkum, E. G.; Kalapugama, S.; Hass, M. J.; Bergens, S. H. Solvent-free Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by a Rhodium Catalyst-Organic Framework. RSC Advances 2012, 2, 3473-3476.
Corkum, E. G.; Hass, M. J.; Sullivan, A. D.; Bergens, S. H. A Highly Reusable Rhodium Catalyst-Organic Framework for the Intramolecular Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Enynes. Organic Letters 2011, 13, 3522-3525.

Teaching

I have taught a variety of chemistry courses to date including general chemistry, introductory and advanced inorganic chemistry, introductory and advanced organic chemistry, organic spectroscopy, physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, introductory and advanced chemical synthesis and materials chemistry.

The courses that I currently teach are:

AUCHE 110, General Chemistry I
AUCHE 112, General Chemistry II
AUCHE 230, Structure and Bonding
AUCHE 341, Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
AUCHE 350, Introductory Synthesis
AUCHE 351, Introductory Synthesis Lab
AUCHE 352, Advanced Synthesis
AUCHE 353, Advanced Synthesis Lab
AUCHE 430, Materials Chemistry

Selected Awards:

The Augustana Faculty Early Achievement of Teaching Excellence Award - 2020
University of Alberta Award for Outstanding Mentorship in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (nominated) - 2019
Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Industry R&D Associates Award - 2014
University of Alberta Profiling Alberta's Graduate Students Award - 2012
University of Alberta University Teaching Services Graduate Student Teaching Award - 2011
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Fellowship (Doctoral) - 2010 and 2011
Walter H. Johns Memorial Scholarship - 2009 and 2010
NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship - 2009 and 2010
Professor Osman James Walker Memorial Scholarship - 2009
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Fellowship (Master's) - 2008 and 2009

Courses

AUCHE 110 - General Chemistry I

A general introduction to chemistry. Topics include atomic structure, periodic trends, bonding, molecular shapes and Lewis structures, states of matter and intermolecular forces, functional groups and IR spectroscopy. Prerequisites: Chemistry 30 and Mathematics 30-1.

Fall Term 2025

AUCHE 112 - General Chemistry II

Continuation of AUCHE 110. Topics include thermodynamics, free energy, reaction kinetics, chemical equilibria, acid-base chemistry, buffers, oxidation-reduction reactions, and electrochemistry. Prerequisite: AUCHE 110. Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of AUCHE 112, AUCHE 212 (2022) or AUCHE 214.

Winter Term 2026

AUCHE 230 - Structure and Bonding

An introduction to the principles of molecular structure and chemical bonding. Topics include: the electronic structure of atoms, bonding models and Molecular Orbital Theory, symmetry and point groups, structure and bonding of ionic solids, structure and bonding of transition metal complexes, stereochemistry and conformational isomerism. Prerequisite: AUCHE 112. Note: Students who completed AUCHE 110 between 2021 and 2023 may also use that course as a prerequisite to AUCHE 230.

Fall Term 2025

AUCHE 341 - Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

This course serves as an introduction to the chemical processes responsible for natural environmental phenomena and anthropogenic environmental problems. Topics to be discussed include atmospheric chemistry, water and soil chemistry, environmental sampling, climate change, pollution, waste management, fossil fuels and alternative energy technologies, toxic organic compounds and the principles of green chemistry. Prerequisites: AUCHE 112 or AUCHE 212 (2022) or AUCHE 214, third year standing, AUCHE 220 recommended.

Winter Term 2026

AUCHE 430 - Materials Chemistry

An introduction to the synthesis, characterization, properties and applications of chemical materials. Potential topics to be discussed include solid state materials, polymers, nanomaterials, porous materials and hybrid materials. Prerequisite: AUCHE 230.

Fall Term 2025

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